'We have tortured people.'

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So if you or I would commit a crime, wouldn't we be prosecuted? Why would it be any different for a President or a Vice President or anyone that serves below them who knowingly commit a crime - a war crime? It shouldn't.

"...the Republicans are once again embracing torture as a platform for their party — demanding that Holder promise not to investigate or prosecution war crimes committed by President Bush and his administration."

An investigation must happen. Justice must be carried out. Without doing so, we cannot move forward with a clear conscience and be in good moral standing with the world.

Hope Lives

So I sat down tonight to write a post on the latest political news, but then I found hope and peace in a place I'd never expect to find it... online...

Take a look - I promise it'll make you feel good, hopeful and peaceful:

• Stars and Stripes (from: ruthie822.blogspot.com)

• The Future (from: loritimesfive.blogspot.com)

• Cookies for My President (from: annieinaustin.blogspot.com)

• Inauguration Morning in San Francisco (from: tangobaby2.blogspot.com)
  
  

I'd like to thank each of these blog authors for bringing a little hope and peace into my night.

One America

Today we were not Democrats and Republicans. We were not Liberals and Conservatives. We were not red states and blue states. Today we came together as one - America.

Our beloved Country's soul, which had been battered and bruised, darkened and almost lost was reborn as a revitalized, hopeful and optimistic being. It's ok to smile. It's ok to laugh. It's ok for us to take a moment in time and celebrate.

We came together. There was an extra bounce in our steps. There was an extra kind thought and deed done.

We celebrate a new President Barack Obama, but more importantly we celebrate America's greatness reborn.

God bless you and God bless America!

King and the Dream

There's been talk over the last few days that the election of Barack Obama to the presidency was the "dream fulfilled". I think Barack Obama would be the first to disagree. When a talking head brought up that this was the "dream fulfilled" (on CNN) a reporter spoke up to correct this statement - and I agree with her statement. Basically she said that no this isn't the dream fulfilled, but it's a partial payment on the dream.

When Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed he had been organizing a campaign. He poured his last hours into this cause. The "Poor People's Campaign" was King's final work. A work unfinished.

August 29th, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina proved that poverty is an issue in the richest country in the world. From 1968 (when Martin Luther King, Jr. kicked off the "Poor People's Campaign") to now 2009 - poverty remains a problem that we can no longer deny or ignore. We can't.

It's time that we re-ignite the fight for those living in poverty. Especially now when the economic waters have lowered to a point where we all are feeling pain. When the economic waters rise - we must make sure that it lifts us all, especially the poor.

We shall overcome. The dream will be fulfilled.

Do you believe in miracles?

A miracle is defined as:
(1) an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs
(2) an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

For 155 passengers of US Airways flight 1549 a miracle occurred when their plane landed in the Hudson River without any life lost. There are some that will claim that this event had nothing to do with a miracle, but I'll have to respectfully disagree. How do you explain what took place? How do you explain the numerous heroes that came forward to help? "An extremely outstanding event" happened that day - 155 people survived a crash landing.

Now if that's not a miracle - what is?

More miraculous stories:
1) Woman buried in snow for 3 days found alive

2) The miracle under the mattress

3) Miracle baby who survived tornado

I believe in miracles, how about you?

The Economic Spiral

If there’s anything worth celebrating in regards to our economic condition it’s that we’re all feeling the pain. It might actually bring us together as a nation.

I will be the first to say that handing out money to the banks was a huge mistake on the part of the Congress. To blindly give the Bush administration (the Treasury) another blank check – was THE BIGGEST ERROR of 2008. It played out like the resolution to give the President the authority to declare war on Iraq. There has been no accountability, none.

Again we are relying on trickle down economics. What we need to do is reverse it – give the money to the people. Let us use the funds to pay bills (money going to banks through mortgages, credit cards, etc.). Let us use the funds to buy gas, groceries, necessities, and some not.

What we have now is an Economic Spiral. People don’t spend money. Retailers and other businesses cut costs (layoffs, spending, etc.). Banks quit giving loans and lines of credit, which hurt businesses even more.

Things get worse.

Lets talk about small businesses. They tend to run very lean to begin with; one of the areas that they end up cutting is advertising/marketing. This becomes a catch 22. In fact cutting their marketing budget can bring certain death to that business. No customers walking in the door. No ads trying to entice them in. It ends there right? Nope – layoffs ensue. The business starves itself to death. But the reach is further than that. No one buying ad space in the local newspapers, radio stations, direct mailers, etc. Those businesses now begin to suffer too. More layoffs happen within those businesses. Think about all of the vendors that the small business may use within their marketing efforts (copy centers, printers, equipment resellers, etc.). Those individuals that get laid off rightfully now don’t go shopping, don’t eat out, don’t go to movies, etc.

Things get worse.

On a positive note… the lottery is doing GREAT!!

News run (1/12/09)...

Here are some stories that you might find interesting...

1. Texas death row inmate pulls out eye, eats it
(Tastes like chicken? - Ok, I'm grossed out.)

2. Stimulus check count as income?
(Here comes the IRS? Not necessarily.)

3. Despite ricin threat, Seattle gay bars hopping

4. In recession, many see lottery worth the gamble
(I bought a ticket with my last dollar...)